Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Readings for August 28 2011

I apologize for not having posted in a month. I won't post the missing entries but resolve to post each week.

This week we continue reading Romans, though we are nearing the end, Exodus and the salvation of Israel, and the Gospel of Matthew. I am trying a new way of bring attention to the texts so I will not be telling what you can read for yourselves but asking questions that, God willing, stimulates your thinking about these texts.

Exodus 3:1-15 – Where was Moses and what was he doing when he saw the bush? What was happening to the bush and what was not happening? Who spoke to Moses? What was Moses instructed to do? What was his response? When Moses asked for a name, what name was given? Note, the name given is the verb “be” and translated “I Am Who I Am”, or “I Am What I Am”, or “I Will Be What I Will Be.” Ancient Hebrew had no vowels and the consonances used transliterate to YHWH (“Yah-way'”). Many Jews believe that this sacred name of God should never be spoken lest you take it in vain. Thus, most Bibles use “LORD” in all caps to indicate this name.

Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26 – Skim through the entire Psalm. What is this Psalm about? What is verses 23-26 about? Does it relate to the Exodus text above?

Jeremiah 15:15-21 – How many speakers are in this passage and who are they? What does the first speaker complain about? Who is the second speaker? What is offered?

Psalm 26:1-8 – What does it mean to “Walk in Integrity”? How does the psalmist live this out? How do you and I live it out?

Romans 12:9-21 – What does it mean to live as a follower of Christ? How do we “heap coals” on our enemy’s head? What are we supposed to do when someone hurts us? Note once again that in verse 19 the words “of God” are not in the Greek writing of Paul. What does it mean to “leave room for the wrath of God” verses “leave room for the wrath”? If the wrath is not God’s whose is it?

Matthew 16:21-28 – I believe that these verses are part of the Gospel verses we read this past week. Peter said that Jesus was the Messiah. What does Jesus believe this means? What must Jesus do to be the Messiah? What is Peter’s response? What does Peter want Jesus to be? How is that a “stumbling block” or “scandal”?

May the Lord bless you in your reading that you may grow in love and faith.